It’s the first fixture we all look for when the fixtures get released in June. Regardless of where we are in comparison to them, whether we’re fighting for the title or the top four, or even if we’re both languishing in mid-table, this one will always matter.
It is of course time for the North London Derby. Whilst technically we have been playing Tottenham for almost 150 years, we as proud supporters of North London’s original club, know that this fixture has only been an official local derby since 1965 when the Greater London boundaries were shifted to accommodate the region of Middlesex which included N17. So, despite those losers constantly harping on about Arsenal pitching up on “their turf” we were in fact a North London club over 50 years before they were. But hey, who would want to let good old-fashioned facts get in the way of a good argument?
It’s certainly a fixture Arsenal have dominated throughout our existence. To nobody’s surprise we are vastly superior with 84 wins to their 61 and 52 draws. We have famously won the league at their hovel on two occasions, in 1971 and 2004. That’s the same number of times as they’ve managed to win it in their entire mediocre existence.
In 2019 they moved from the old White Hart Lane and into their new shiny toilet bowl on the same site. In true Spurs and Daniel Levy fashion it was built way past the original deadline and miles over budget. Since they moved in, they have hosted more Beyonce concerts than Richarlison has goals. Well not quite but she’s probably not far behind.
Last season, unfortunately they finally managed to get their hands on some silverware that didn’t come from Daniel Levy’s Mum’s kitchen drawers. They managed to fluke their way to Europa League success by beating fellow bottom feeders Manchester United in the final last May. This means we can brace ourselves from their moronic “Champions of Europe” chant. Sometimes there is no need to make fun of Spurs fans because they are perfectly capable of doing it themselves. They do in fact play the actual Champions of Europe, PSG on Wednesday where I strongly suspect they will get royally battered. I suspect they will start to sing it less after their next two games.
Over the course of Arsenal’s steady decline beginning towards the backend of the 2000’s and into the 2010’s which was coupled with Spurs’ ascension to regular top 4-ish finishes, we had to contend with much tedious media discourse about a mythical “power shift in North London”. Arsene Wenger was asked about this and he famously quipped “Power shift? The last time I checked, they were still 11 titles and 4 miles away!” How right he was. Quite apart from the fact that even in our period of decline, for which there were some valid reasons, we still won more than them, it was always more a case of Arsenal descending to lower levels rather than Spurs rising to any sort of great heights.
Recent meetings have gone very heavily in our favour. Since the start of the 22/23 season we have won 5, drawn 1 and lost 0. That includes each of our last three visits to the Toilet Bowl. In comparison, Spurs have not recorded a league victory in N5 since November 2010 and they have just two league victories at either The Emirates or Highbury in the Premier League era.
This all contributes to our tag as heavy favourites for Sunday’s game. Whilst Gabriel and Havertz are definitely out, and we are sweating over the fitness of several others, you would still feel confident we will be able to put out a team that is considerably stronger than our opponents. Spurs do also have a lengthy injury list, but the difference is our injured players are actually quite good at football.
My predicted eleven is as follows:
Raya
Timber Saliba Hincapié Calafiori
Zubimendi Ødegaard Rice
Saka Eze
Merino
I expect our skipper will be deemed fit for this one. As a bonus prediction I think both Martinelli and Madueke will make the bench. What is this based on, you ask? Absolutely nothing other than the law of averages. We have so many players to come back, surely at least a couple of them will be fit?
Because we can’t have absolutely everything in the universe go for us, I’ve predicted Gyökeres to sit this one out to balance things out. Big Mik will continue to deputise.
Michael Oliver is the ref for this one. He has not reffed an Arsenal game since he gave Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red for his malicious trip on Matt Docherty 80 yards from goal against Wolves in January. What could possibly go wrong?
Despite potential injury woes and the likely PGMO nonsense, I fully expect a win. 3-0 to The Arsenal. Saka, Eze and Merino. My reasoning? We’re very good and they are very not good. Nuff said.
Let’s give it the full beans for this one. COYG!
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Quality preview, Sir. “ Since they moved in, they have hosted more Beyonce concerts than Richarlison has goals” is comedy gold!
Masterful preview of the game and description of the lowly marshdwellers 21cg, with an incontrovertibally rational prediction to boot. Cheers!
Thanks 21CG, great stuff and I’d be very happy with 3-0
I have no idea who is fit either but I think Leo is likely to start
given his recent good form. I also heard Hincapie was back quite
late from the Ecuador match and I wonder if he will start.
I don’t mind Cala at CB and MLS at LB but I don’t expect it.
Great going, 21CG. Your Beyoncé/Richarlison line alone was worth the price of entry.
I doubt any of our recently walking wounded will start. I’d expect to see Mosquera start alongside Saliba, with Hincapie or MLS at left-back, Eze in midfield and Trossard on the left. MØ8, Mandueke and Calafiori on the bench.
I’d happily take 3-0 but suspect it will be closer, although as the average goals-per-game in NLDs in the PL era is 2.88, as per Transfermarket, your scoreline has history on its side.
Well I have to say that preview is full of arrogance, disdain for the opposition and ridicule of players that is not even based on facts. LOVE IT !!
Beautifully set up for tomorrow, 21CG.
Oliver’s presence on the field is probably a bigger threat than the Tott’s forward line. We’ll need to manage him well and not give him the slightest opportunity to brandish a red card. I hope he receives a very ‘warm’ Emirates Stadium reception.
Three points and another clean sheet will do wonderfully well.
Watched a bit of the Liverpool game,
they look like a total disaster at the moment.
Hopefully Riyadh will drop points away to
Abu Dhabi.
in his pre-match comments, Guardiola was mouthing “the season starts after this international break (i.e today)”
How are you enjoying it so far, Pep?
Awin tomorrow would/will be a big statement, foot on the neck and a very fooking good thing.
OM@7: No easy games in desert derbies.
Love this preview 21CG.it is full of utter disdain for the team from Middlesex . That is how it should be . I heard a story that in his Arsenal playing days George Graham had a good friend who was a Tottnumb fan and believed that if he saw him the night before a NLD Arsenal would win . One day he surprised the Spud who hid in the toilet until he was forced to come out. Arsenal won the next day. It is understandable for Spuds to hide in the toilet before a NLD or to spend extra time in there anyway .
The C130y result gives us a very good opportunity to put distance between us and other contenders and I hope we take it. I think Odegaard will start on the bench with Trossard on the left and Merino upfront . I think we will take the spoils 2-0 and I have a hunch Declan might score .
COYG !
Great preview, 21CG. You have pitched this preview perfectly and your suggested scoreline would be very welcome.
Today’s results give us an opportunity to stretch the gap between ourselves and the biggest threat to landing the PL trophy again and we really must take it, with both hands.
I too expect Ødegaard, Hincapié and probably also Calafiori to join Madueke on the bench. However I expect Gyökeres to start and the left side of defence to be Mosquera and MLS from the off. Trossard is likely to be wide left.
The Goonersphere expects every man to win his duels.
COYG !
A supremely enjoyable preview. Let’s hope the Arsenal team plays with that kind of panache.
Mikel, true to his style, has been perfectly opaque about the injury situations. The training photos too offer no clues, I am sure by design.
I agree with others that Mosquera — who already has played a fair bit and likely has a better understanding with the rest of the defense — is the likeliest to play in the Gabriel position, whereas Hincapié’s familiarity with Bayern may mean that he will get the nod in the midweek. I think Calafiori is fit to start, and like Bath I too am hoping to see Gyökeres in the starting eleven.
Raya
Timber-Saliba-Mosquera-Calafiori
Zubimendi
Eze-Rice
Saka-Gyökeres-Trossard
After the results today, a win tomorrow would set us up very well for the next few weeks as the matches come nonstop and the teams chasing have little margin of error. Sure the team is up for it, and can balance the emotions and the intensity. I will take a 2-0 home win, played out with composure and control.
Come on Arsenal!
The Big One.
Cheers, 21CG, great preview, this has got me in the mood now.
Any sort of win today, please.
Thanks 21st
On a day where it is not much fun to be a Pom in Oz (thanks Bazball), I am confidently hoping that the Arse will bring something to cheer about. Anything to 0 will do me fine and hope that Oliver will get smashed in the face by a stray Spud pass and has to be replaced by someone sensible along the way.
UTA.
Nice one 21CG. I really enjoyed that preview.
I can’t say the same for many of these derbies. The home match against that lot is the match I’d least like to lose every season. Unless we are three goals ahead and a man up then I’m usually pretty cautious. The NLD sometimes has an FA Cup feel, where the relative quality of the teams seems to matter less and something intangible levels the playing field.
Frank is also a huge step up from Big Ange, so it’s fair to say I’m wary.
Anyway, let’s hope our class shines through and get three very useful points.
Getting nervous ahead of the pre match meet-up to ease the nerves and lubricate the vocal cords. As Dino says above, this game is often nothing to do with form or even quality and everything about the intangibles. Let’s hope Oliver is invisible and doesn’t make it all about him as usual.
I hope we get a chance to remember Willie Young today, our first home game since his passing. Given he played for both sides it would be fitting.
COYG.
Good point CER
Colin Addison also passed away so it will be a joint recognition.
Madueke , Cala , Odegaard and Martinelli are with the team. No sign of Gyokeres
Good point about Willie Young, CER whom I first saw in his breakout season playing at Shawfield – long since disappeared and converted into housing, I believe. In his youth he could be a tad agricultural in his tackles and watching from a distance after his southerly migration, he never quite lost that capacity. That notorious cup final foul was probably the apogee!
I never saw Colin Addison play but a double memorial would be appropriate.
Many thanks 21CG for a rousing preview. Irrespective of our championship aspirations, to not lose the NLD is a must – they have always been enemy no 1. Any way of winning will be fine with me but to give the spuds a proper mashing will be icing on the cake.
Hopefully Arteta has been playing his inscrutable self with details of who is ready to return to the fold and some will be on the team sheet / bench.
COYRRR
Hincapie replaces Gabriel, Calafiori left back
Raya
Timber, Saliba, Hincapié, Calafiori
Zubimendi, Eze, Rice
Saka (c), , Merino, Trossard
Bench: Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White
Only Maritnelli and Madueke among those recently off games fit enough for the bench. MØ8 and VG14 are still dallying with Matron.
Good to have portions off the bench at least.
Spuds setting up with a Brentford block in the early stages,
it suits them really, little team
Trossard again ole ole!
LEO! Great ball in, nice turn and 1-0
Game on as timid little spuddies have to come out to play
EZE!
Wow, just wow Eze is at home
COYG
2-0 with a nice finish from Ebs (as MA calls him and that’s good enough for me!) at half time. In a normal game at home against a mid table shower I’d think game over but it’s a NLD so I’d like us to keep our foot on their throat.
We are are not shrinking violets.
Oh! 3-0 just after half time and game is actually over
Oh f.ck , one closer to Beyonce an no clean sheet 🙁
COYG
First shot and 3-1, annoying to give a goal away but Zubi has
played well until then and it was a once a season finish from
Poorcharlison
4-1 and a hat trick for Eze. He, Leo and Merino have been excellent and much
too good for the spuds. Nice to see Madueke back
Well that’s put the tiny Totts back in their box!
What a day for Eze. I’m so happy for him. Trossard is having a blinding season. He’s such a good player. Timber is simply brilliant.
The whole team and the staff got it all right today. Well done everyone. Fantastic result.
What C100 and GSD said at 32&33
I think that may be the most dominant victory I
have ever seen over the tiny totts, they really did
have nothing at all
So much more than just 4 miles between the two teams. The neighbours looked puny and petulant. Barely a poor man’s Brentford, if that. Really annoying to have given up a goal to them. They didn’t deserve it.
Onwards to more testing Bavarian fare.
Also, the atmosphere in the ground must have been electrifying. The singing came over loud and clear on the TV broadcast.
>>>>>>>